Gavin Newsom promised California child care providers pandemic pay. They’re still waiting

Almost 10,000 child care providers have reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office demanding an update on the hundreds of thousands of dollars that the state promised them.

Members of Child Care Providers United, a coalition 40,000 family child care providers in the state, say they’re tired of being stretched thin waiting for the financial assistance for their businesses that they were supposed to get. AB 179, the budget implementation bill which Newsom signed in early September 2022 to provide additional financial relief due to the pandemic.

The state’s 2022-23 budget set aside hundreds of thousands of dollars for the child care stipends. Those who run child care centers were eligible to receive $1,442 per child from the state. In an email dated October 19, 2022, staff at the Department of Social Services (DSS) informed Alexa Frankenburg, Executive Director of Child Care Providers United, that “stipend checks will be issued in late Fall 2022/early Winter 2023.”

Many child care centers have suffered significant drops in attendance and loss of employees. Providers at such centers are required to fill out a DSS survey to be approved for the stipends, and were told they would receive the money around the holidays — early 2023 at the latest. Some providers say they’re in precarious financial shape while they wait out the months-long delay for the expected cash.

“We lost thousands of dollars throughout the pandemic and many of us are still struggling to recoup those losses,” CCPU members wrote in their letter to Newsom.

“We risked our health and our lives to remain open and provide care to those who could not work from home. Doctors, nurses, and first responders relied on our care. Grocery store workers, delivery drivers, and other low-paid workforces needed our care so they could remain employed and support our economy and needs,” they wrote.

“So we are asking you to stop stalling and send us this stipend.”

Staff for Gov. Newsom deferred to the DSS for comment. They did not respond in time for publication.

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